2017 Chevrolet Volt · symptom sheet
"Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on
- 150owner reports
- 36,500median miles
- $450median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 3, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
608 of the 698 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 150 of those describe shift to park warning. Only stalling is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 150 reports
Shift to park warning on other Volt years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them.
What this problem usually is
This sheet covers a dash message that says "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" when the car is already in Park, or when it's sitting in Drive with the shifter lights glowing. Owners say it won't let them turn the car off, or it flashes up on the highway.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the wiring harness (6 reports), the shifter assembly (4 reports) and the park switch or range sensor (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the electrical system covers the 2017 model year as of Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Volt
Loss of motive power due to the battery energy control module. Closed mar 3, 2025.
Pedestrian alert sounds. Closed aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V-063.
Post-crash ev fire hazard. Closed jan 20, 2012.
What owners paid
12 of the 150 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $310 to $1,500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 28,000 and 48,000 miles, from the 89 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 Chevrolet Volt that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of seeing an intermittent Shift to Park message displayed while vehicle is in Park.
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of seeing an intermittent Shift to Park message displayed while vehicle is in park.
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of message displaying shift to park when in park.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Shift to Park message on the Driver Information Center. Technician will find Diagnostic Trouble Codes P1AEE, P1AEF, P1AF0, P1AF2, and P1E22.
What owners wrote
“The car suffers from periodic electrical issues where it does not recognize the current status of the transmission and says "Shift to Park" even though vehicle is already parked. This culminates in a complete failure of the control module/battery/wiring harness systems and eventually the entire electrical system stops connecting to the engine. Our vehicle is now in the shop and”
Filed Jul 14, 2021
“Car would not turn off. Got the message "Shift to park" on driver display, but car was in park. Had to cycle the gear shifter several times in order to get it to shut off.”
Filed Jul 8, 2021
“We are having the "Shift to Park" problems described many times on various forums about this car. The car does not recognize that we have indeed shifted into Park (when we have) and remains on. Others have described power outage whiles driving and various serious issues once this problem starts. GM is aware of the problem.”
Filed Jun 26, 2021
“Shift to park issue. Can not turn the car off as it does not recognize it is in Park.”
Filed Jun 18, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 150 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 153 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 129 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 111 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 69 reports
- Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power 52 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 27 reports